Three queens with three schemes… and some mixed results.
Female monarchs and women-hating religious leaders.
Ah yes, the relationships that build the fabric of our lives.
Credit: Ben Mark Holzberg/The CW
When literal lives and countries are at stake, trust and loyalty are everything.
Whats a queen to do when everyone around her is lying?
Well, if youre Mary, Queen of Scots, you throw a party… with ulterior motives.
Hold on to your corsets, Royals: Mary is getting her scheme on.
It feels like old times, doesnt it?
Anyway, this isnt the first time the grain shipment to Canonbie has been thwarted by the Brits.
In fact, its happened so many times that Mary suspects there is a leak in her court.
Mary reminds him that those men have wives, and that James is forever underestimating women.
It feels likeReignis really going for broke with the feminism in its last season, and it is wonderful.
But Greer is more than enough.
It turns out, the ladys sidepiece is a blacksmith traitor.
While they roll around in the hay (LITERALLY), shes been passing along the Canonbie information.
She and her blacksmith lover are arrested for treason.
Mystery solved, grain safely delivered.
Mary discovers that her party was fruitful in more ways than one.
One of her guests turns out to be Emily Knox.
Weve all been there, Ems.
Oh, and also shes John Knoxs wife.
Thats right, folks: Knox is a cradle robber.
Mary sees an opportunity in front of her: Emily Knox is a pretty girl in an unhappy marriage.
Her brother James is a hottie with a body.
She wants James to befriend Emily, who could have valuable intel against Marys greatest threat.
James knows what befriend really means and refuses.
I am not your whore!
Its a very complicated relationship at the moment.
NEXT: Pick me.
Eventually, James learns that Mary has gone ahead with the plot to befriend Knoxs wife anyway.
She sends Emily a gift (the choker belt!
Nice touch, Mary) with a sweet note from James.
It sort of works?
In much more interesting news: Is there a spark between these two?
Id be into it.
Mary is all alone, surrounded by enemies.
She wants them to start over.
She wants them to protect one another.
She wants James to finally pick a side, and she wants it to be hers.
James is moved by his sisters words and promises that he is on Marys side.
Ill believe it when I see it.
Much like her cousin, Elizabeth is over in England plotting away (when isnt Elizabeth plotting?).
Unlike Mary, however, Elizabeths plan is an unmitigated disaster.
Since she has no proof of his actions, she cant do anything about it.
Not like its hard for Narcisse to go and trash talk Elizabeth.
He hates her about as much as he hates Knox.
Narcisse appeals to Knoxs He-Man Woman-Hating side.
Which, maybe, is his only side?
It doesnt take long for Narcisses suggestion of colluding at the French Embassy to appeal to Knox.
He should be an easy man to grab in the middle of an act of treason.
Should is the operative word.
Nobody planned for chatty servants!
One of the gals is more than happy to blab on about Johns late nanny.
He realizes they only wouldve lied about her death to him if she gave him up.
Isnt it the worst when the bad ones are so smart?
You know who does show up at the embassy looking to chat about reclaiming the throne?
Fifty of Elizabeths Protestant nobles.
Thats 50 men she believed were loyal to her somehow playing for the other team.
Gideon tells her to throw them in the Tower, but Elizabeth isnt just angry shes terrified.
She doesnt want word to get out that her enemies are gaining in both number and power.
Having them brought into court or paraded through the streets on the way to prison would do just that.
She has another idea: Kill them.
Lizzie doesnt play, son.
NEXT: Narcisse knows how to scheme, too
Remember when I said that Knox was a smart guy?
He also knows that shes scared.
Otherwise, she wouldnt have gone and murdered 50 of her subjects quietly in the night.
She doesnt even know the worst part yet!
Narcisse isnt super pleased that both Knox and Elizabeth remain unscathed after what theyve done.
Before hopping on a boat back to France, Narcisse pays a visit to Lady Lennox.
He politely informs her of that little deal Liz has with her son, Darnley.
In return, Darnley has promised to stay away from Mary.
Darnley would have no real choice but to go see Mary about her current opening for a husband.
Yeah, um, that money doesnt get anywhere near Lord White.
Meanwhile, in France:Catherines kids are generally being The Worst.
Leesa is still on her Catholic mission.
Currently, shes giving Catherine grief about King Charles being MIA.
He isnt going to mass, and hes missing all of his privy council meetings.
Leesa wants to know who is actually running this country.
Leesa says her husband, King Philip (Im aware of who you married, Leesa.
You dont have to say it.
#SavageCatherine), would like to put a Spanish noble in the position.
Basically, Catherines just being herself again.
Which is to say, awesome.
A note on Charles: The boy is not well.
He is pale and sweaty.
He has mysterious injuries on his arm.
Its obvious that he is falling behind on his kingly duties thanks to something much bigger than being indifferent.
She is speaking to him not as an adviser, but as his mother.
He has her leave the documents with him, and she feels like its a victory.
What is up with our young king?
Outfit of the Week:Alert!
This episode contains an actual PARTY FOR DRESSES.
The day is ours, dear Royals.
It is the stuff of true fabulousness.
Thats my story and Im sticking to it.
Come for my head if youd like.
